This module is designed to support you in your chosen specialism skill. Building upon all your prior learning and skills development and strengths and weaknesses this module will develop your professional practical skills further in the advanced concepts of pre-production planning, ideas generation and communication.

The module focus is on the creation of storyboards, animatics and pre-vis material to support the pitch and presentation of a short character-led animated sequence.

Based on the ‘Pitch & Present’ process course staff will select several project proposals to ‘green light’ for production in the following module ‘Animation Pipeline’. Projects not selected may be undertaken as part of individual student’s ‘Animator Profile and Portfolio’ work.

The pitching and presentation of ideas is a fundamental aspect of the moving image industries – a process that we want our graduates to be experienced in before entering the world of employment. Talking in public and sharing ideas can be challenging – but also equally rewarding – and is a key skill for your future career as an animator.

Whilst the ‘green light’ selection process may seem harsh, it replicates the reality of industry practise and standards, where creative competitiveness is expected and as such is something that we want our graduates to be prepared for.

Allowances can be negotiated for students who are able only to present 1-2-1 with academic staff.

A pre-recorded pitch is an option that students might consider based on individual needs and LSS’s

Pitch Presentation (LO 2, 3)
Negotiated series of industry relevant pre-production pipeline materials developed within industry expectations including style guide.

Animatic (LO 1, 2)
Defining the narrative and/or sequence design using still and moving elements, and appropriate sounds such as voice, music, foley and wild tracks. Provided precise shot timing, performance and camera movement details, colour, tone and lighting information – a blueprint for the proposed animation.

Proof of Concept reel (LO 1, 2)
Encapsulating the essence of the project aesthetic – a short animation clip that demonstrates that the proposed project being pitched is practically achievable in those key aspects of the desired form, including precise examples of elements such as characters, environments and other vital elements can be rendered effectively on screen and the process replicated as required by the production plan.

Sessions will take the form of a combination of lectures, seminars, 1-2-1's, review (‘Rushes’) and critique, forums, and workshops that will focus on the pre-production stages of audience specific animation – the materials required to successfully convince and potential investor, or future stakeholder of quality and viability of the I.P. - Information Property.

Content will be themed such as the examples here:
- Exploring master and individual art and storytelling styles
- Practicing with different media for visual design
- Developing knowledge of visual storytelling
- Designing a pitch portfolio of an original idea
- Learning the principle of pitching an animation project to potential producers
- Create proof-of-concept materials to demonstrate practicality and feasibility.

In this module you will have the creative freedom to bring to life your own ideas and/or adapt existing texts such as classic stories, or other appropriate materials (I.e., within legal copyright permissions, or as part of a robust agreement with another person, or persons).

The scope, nature and content of the pitch will depend on your individual professional and creative goals and will require you to fully justify and argue the utility of your decision making within the context of a defined audience.

Where collaboration is negotiated and appropriately managed and documented, students from other levels and courses, and participants outside of the University may contribute to your module submission.

1. ON COMPLETION OF THIS MODULE, YOU WILL BE ABLE TO EMPLOY PREVIOUSLY LEARNED METHODS AND SKILLS TO EXPLORE NARRATIVE IDEAS FOR DEVELOPMENT IN ANIMATION, RECOGNISING POTENTIALS, ANTICIPATING PROBLEMS AND EXPLORING ALTERNATIVE POSSIBILITIES IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF AN ACHIEVABLE ANIMATED PROJECT

2. ON COMPLETION OF THIS MODULE, YOU WILL BE ABLE TO DEMONSTRATE ANIMATION PROJECT DEVELOPMENT SKILLS THOUGH THE CLEAR COMMUNICATION OF CREATIVE IDEAS IN A RANGE OF APPROPRIATE PRESENTATION METHODS THROUGH THE DEVELOPMENT OF, AND WITHIN, A BODY OF PRE-PRODUCTION WORK READY FOR COMMISSION

3. ON COMPLETION OF THIS MODULE YOU WILL BE ABLE TO PITCH A VIABLE ANIMATION PROJECT PROPOSAL BASED ON THE CREATION OF A SUBSTANTIAL BODY OF PRE-PRODUCTION DESIGN AND PLANNING WORK FOR A DFINED AUDIENCE (WITHIN THE CONTEXT OF COMMERCIAL AND FREELANCE MARKETS) WHICH CAN SUPPORT AND PROMOTE YOUR EMPLOYABILITY

Animation Studios Facilities
Industry Standard software and equipment tools.
Animation pathway specific apparatus and equipment.
Media Centre bookable resources.
Library and digital learning resources
Study support resources
VLE’s

Blake, S. (2005) Save the Cat: the last book on scriptwriting you will ever need. Studio City.
Wells, P. (2016) Animation in Context: A practical guide to Theory & Making. Fairchild Books.
Wells, P. (2008) Re-Imagining Animation. The Changing face of the Moving Image.
Van Sijll, J. (2005) Cinematic storytelling: the 100 most powerful film conventions every filmmaker must know. Studio City.
Winder, C. (2011) Producing Animation. Focal Press.

Dowlatabadi, Z & Winder, C (2019) ‘Producing Animation 3e’, CRC Press
Dunlop, R (2014), ‘Production Pipeline Fundamentals for Film and Games’, Focal Press
Bacher, H (2012) ‘Dream Worlds: Production Design for Animation’, CRC Press
Rall, H (2017) ‘Animation from Concepts and Production’, CRC Press

Links:
www.vimeo.com
www.skwigly.co.uk
www.awn.com
www.creativebloq.com

Do you see yourself as a showrunner on your own animation series, or director of a dazzling short film, or perhaps just want to gather likeminded people to help bring a treasured character and story to life? This module will provide you with the skills you need to develop a project ready for pitching and fit for production.